Downers Grove D99 OKs more spending on renovations

Downers Grove's high school district authorized a second round of spending to overhaul a building that will be the new home for its post-graduate special needs program.

The District 99 school board approved another $147,000 to pay for asphalt paving, concrete and fencing for the property at 4232 Venard Road. The work will include a drop-off area, curbing and sidewalks.

In September, the school board endorsed another $758,000 for vast interior work, including plumbing, painting, flooring and ventilation. Buildings director Jim Kolodziej said the construction is on schedule and the building should be ready for students at the beginning of the second semester.

The work also will include decontamination of soil on the property. Kolodziej said there are high levels of chromium present.

"It's a substantial amount back where the well was," Kolodziej said.

Construction is expected to be complete by the end of November. Additional landscaping in planned for next spring.